Torch holder for portable machines



June 27, 1933. J. L. ANDERSON TORCH HOLDER FOR PORTABLE MACHINES Filed Sept. 24, 1932 2 Sheets-Shee't l a I w m 5: 5:

Q: @N @N INVENTOR ATTORNEY June 27, 1933. J. ANDERSON TORCH HOLDER FOR PORTABLE MACHINES 2 Sheets-Shet 2 Filed Sept. 24; 1932 Patented June 27, 1933 IUM ED, AT NT OFFICE JAMES L. ANDERSON, OF CLOSTER,Y.NEW JERSEY, A. SSIG NOR,TO AIR,RIE }DU CTION COMi'I PANY, INCORPORATED, or YORK, Y'., A coRrOBArION ENEwYoRK 'ro'ncir Honnnn o omimsimesms- Applicationfiled September 24,1932.- Serial m-tsipes. '7

This invention'relates to portable cutting or welding machines, and particularly; to I torch holders for such-machines.

When Operating on large pieces, it has be-Q come common practice in-the cuttingartto and carries an Oxygen cutting torch foroper- 'ating on the work as the carriag'etravels When cutting arcs and circles, the carriage is usually guided byl a' radius 51Od 'WhlCl'I 1s fastened to the carriage and has a center in -*-contact'with the work; The-distance between the center'- and thecarriage adjustable to changethe radius of'the out; 1

For many purposes itis desirable. to? out two arcs" or circles of difi'erent' radiivabout' the same'center, 'I'nsuc'h cases much: time can be saved by'equipping' the torch carriage two torches, 'gjlocated at different distances from-a the center, "for making simultaneous cuts'wliile the carriage moves around the ceni f Fey- 11", I,;.. 1 7

'Thd p rincipal object; of this invention is to provide an improved {torch holder for holding two or more torches ona' portable carriage in positions for making simultaneous cuts as the carriage moves over'the surface of the workjand another object is to 0 part hereof:

provide such a torch holder with means for adjusting the positions of the torches so that 8 they are located on a common radius from a guiding center about which the carriage re-' volves, and can, therefore, be set conveniently, and with little likelihood of error, to make two 'cuts which are spaced a prede termined distance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a torch-holder having a bracket for connection with a wheeled carriage, and a supporting bar for two .or more torches, the bar being movable to change the positions of the torches as a unit, and the torches being movable individually to change the spacing between the cuts.

Other'objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear or be pointed out as the specification proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a the invention in w A radiu's"rod"=26 fits" the carr1age'r'body 12; and is-secured'to the A center 32 is ad- 1 isa side elevation of a wheeled car- With thisinvention I 2 is a op planview r themaehin v 'ShOWILJII Fig. l','W1thTth8 torches removed; "use a self-propelled wheeled carriage WlllChfl 'runs' on tracks or on the surface of-the work- F 3 is a:diagrammatictop;plaii view, on a reduced scale, showing the operationof d making simultaneous cuts v2L1]. 17:1";

' which runonthe surface' offthe' work 17.

' The wheels 16 have their axles connected to wheel-carriers 18, which areswivelly coniiected withtathe:ncarriage' body 1 2. The driving wheels 14 are operatively connected with'an "electric:motor iWA post"22 isrigidly se (I cured to ='a"=1ug 24, which" extends from' the "front of the body 12;" I

into a socket-28 in bodyby' set-screw -30'.

Justablealong the radius rod 26 and can be set at different positions, 'depending'on the diameters of the 'circles or "arcs to be: cut. 'lhe apparatus thus far described" is essentially the same as in my Patent No. 1,811,835, dated June30, 1931. i -The torch support comprises a split bracket 34, which has a transverse undercut guide slot 36, in which a supporting bar 38 is slidable. The split bracket 34 fits over the post 22 and is clamped to the post by a screw 40, which draws the split ends of the bracket together.

A rack 42 on the bar 38 engages a pinion operated by a hand wheel 44. This rack and pinion mechanism provides means for sliding the bar '38 in' the bracket, the bar being ordinarily held against movement by friction.

Two torch holders 46 and 48 are carried by the bar 38 and are independently slidable along the bar so that the torches can be separated any desired distance within the limits of the bar length. Screws 50 clamp the re spective torchholders inany set position s adiagrammatic:- trontlelevatioir of the machine'sho'wn in'Fig.

' 'respect :tosthe carriage so that thettorches to make simultaneous cuts. ..havin g. ,radii,

which are very nearly equal. Theinvention is primarily intended :OI- use with two torches, but contemplates the use of more :than two torchesiincases where three or moreicuttingzoperationsare 'to 1be:performed simultaneously about aicommon center.

Fig. -3 shows the torch supportiturned with are ilocated on' 1a 1common=radius from the center 32. The distance betweenathe: torches iis-the same :as ithe K difference :inithe [radii of the two cuts.

- the finished vcuts would .be: closer than demon radius. -The torch support is-turned about the post 22', the screw being released, inecessary','to reduce friction.

ous cuts. 'The ends of the torch holders which slidably connect with the bar 38 provide means :for changing the spacing otthe torches along-thebar 88, and the screws 50 provide means for locking the torch holders in any set positions. The torches can be moved as a unit, without changing their set spacing, by'the hand-wheel 44. Although primarily useful for cutting operations, the invention.

The principal advantages of the invention are in cutting or welding arcs and circles, but the invention can also be used for work in which the carriage is guided along a straight line or a non-circular curve.

lhepreferred embodiment of the inven- .itien has been (described, Ebut changes and modifications can be made without departing from the invention as defined in the appended Cla ms-3" "'I claim?- ,,1. ,Inacuttingorwelding machine, a torch support "comprising a bracket for connection '|Z?V.ltl 1-;a7 oarriage;.arbar carried by the bracket and adjustable with respect to the bracket; & pluralityot torch :holders: carried. iby the bar and individually :movable alon'githe ;bar to change E'their sspading relative, {to Queen- --'other iandtto change ztheir Zlocation with respectlto thwbracketr m.

,1: "*2. Aitorch support foria cutting-or welding z-ma'chineafcomprising 1a supportingv bar; a; plurality :ofsspaced ztoizch rholders', carried This has the advantage sof" byitheabarg-imeans for changing the spacing ;making-;the setting {of the torches-snore con-- venient and =zlessaliable tov'error. *If' thei torches were not 'located on a commonsradiusf 4 ofithe torch-1 liolders llengthwise' ofgthel-ban; a bracketrsuppo'l ting the bar; ;and adapted to be connected with aacarriage; andlmeans for :movingthmbar =;vvithirespect tmthebracket to (change xthe positions 'off the torch holders as a unit without changing (the zspacing of xthe torchzholdersaalong the,bar. '1' IIn Tar-cutting for :welding machine, a :torclnsup portwcomprising a bracket for .con- :nection-with-a carriage a; ban carried..by the :bracket; ia plurality of spjacedtorch, holders carried by the; ban; meansifior changing :the spacing ofithe or h liqldersilen as of the bar; a torch in each torch hol er; means for :moving each; torch ,initsholder to ad- .Ejustfthe' torch fWitll .res pectto the surface of a .the,xwork; and -means ior moving the ,bar The invention provides all of the ad ust-v merits necessary for the most-efficient operation of the machine to make :two simultane- -with respect to ,the bracket to change the :;positions of the-torches asa unit.

4. A cutting'or weldingimachine comprising a wheeled carriage; @a radius :rod .con- -necting'theicarriage to a center aboutwhich the carriage moves;. a torch'support on the carriage; .a plurality ofspaced .tor'c'hes car 'ried by (the support; and means for moving the :torch supportto locate the torches one common c-radiusfrom the center.

5. The combination of a wheeled carriage; .a bracket connected withlthecarriage; a bar supported by the bracket; means for moving the bar withrespect to'thebracket and the carriage-;..a ,plurality of torch holders slidiably supported by the bar;-,and means for locking the respective torch holders in set positions onthe bar.

6. In a cutting or welding machine, a torch supportcomprisinga bracket clamp for con- .nection with a wheeled carriage; a bar slidably held in the bracket; t-wo torch holders carried by the bar and slidable lengthwise along the bar: and a clamp on each torch holder for looking it against sliding movement along the bar.

7. A cutting or welding machine including, in combination, a wheeled carriage; a bracket clamped to the carriage; a bar slidably held in the bracket; rack and pinion mechanism for sliding the bar with respect to the bracket; two torch holders carried by the bar and slidable lengthwise along the bar; and a clamp on each torch holder for securing it in set position on the bar; the bracket having a turning movement with respect to the carriage to turn the bar so that the torch holders are located on a common radius from a guide center about which the carriage moves.

JAMES L. ANDERSON. 

